Laundry Tub and Drum Layout for Larger Washer Capacity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating appliances have limited capacity due to the need for a suspension system that restricts the size of the tub and drum, limiting the volume of the treating chamber and the amount of laundry that can be treated.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance with a statically mounted tub and a dynamically supported drum via an exoskeleton, allowing for a larger drum size without increasing the cabinet size, and utilizing extruded sheets or cylinders to form the tub, eliminating the need for a weld flange and draft angles, and incorporating a labyrinth seal to prevent liquid ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a suspension system is used to support the tub and drum, then the movement and vibration are dampened, but the tub capacity and drum volume are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tub is divided into two separate sections: an inner tub that rotates with the drum and an outer tub that remains stationary. This segmentation allows the inner tub to be smaller and dynamically supported, while the outer tub provides structural stability and vibration damping, thereby increasing drum capacity without compromising reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of suspending the entire tub assembly, the invention inverts the approach by making the outer tub stationary and supporting it directly to the cabinet, while only the inner tub and drum assembly is dynamically supported. This allows for larger drum capacity while maintaining effective vibration damping through the stationary outer tub structure
2Ease of manufacture
If a two-piece tub with vertical seam is used, then the tub can be assembled, but the weld flange and draft angles increase the tub wall thickness and reduce internal space
Solution Approach 1:
The tub seam is repositioned from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation at the bottom of the tub. This dimensional change eliminates the need for weld flanges and draft angles that would otherwise be required for vertical seams, thereby reducing tub wall thickness and maximizing internal space while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional joining methods
Solution Approach 2:
The tub is designed with thin walls by eliminating bulky weld flanges and draft angles. The horizontal seam configuration allows the tub sections to join with minimal material thickness, effectively using thin-walled construction to maximize internal volume while maintaining structural integrity and ease of assembly
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration maximizes drum capacity, reduces tub wall thickness, and minimizes internal space requirements, enabling larger washing loads while maintaining structural integrity and preventing water damage to the drive system.
Implementation Method 1
a labyrinth seal to prevent liquid ingress
Data Source
AI summary
A fabric treating appliance includes a chassis defining an interior. A two-piece tub is provided in the interior defining a liquid chamber including an upper section and a lower section. A seam is formed at the junction between the upper section and the lower section. A rotatable drum is located within the tub to define a treating chamber rotatable about an axis of rotation.